J. Cole on His Album Release Competing With Kanye's: "I'm Not Going to Sit in His Shadow"

"This is like Kobe-Jordan or LeBron-Kobe," the 'Born Sinner' rapper tells Fuse. "It's the young kid coming in and saying, 'I can play, too'" Catch the full J. Cole interview on tonight's Fuse News at 8/7c

Roc Nation rapper J. Cole turned a few heads when he moved the release date of his second album up one week to June 18. Not only because most rappers are more likely to push back a drop date, but because June 18 is the day the ridiculously-anticipated new album from Kanye West hits.

So when Fuse's Esteban Serrano sat down with the Born Sinner rapper, we had to find out why the relative newcomer decided to compete head-to-head with one of hip hop's biggest names.

"At first I was like, 'I'm good, I'm straight,' but then when it got a little more real and I realized he really was coming on the 18th, it was like, 'Nah, I'm going to see him. I'm going to his date,'" Cole tells Fuse. "I'm not going to sit in the shadow of a Kanye West album. I'm coming. You might love both, but I know what I got [with Born Sinner] and I'm coming on that date."

As confident as he sounds, the Roc Nation rapper admits what he's doing is a little risky. "It's crazy by the way. But it is what it is," Cole says. "That's just how I am. It wasn't even a second thought when the idea hit me."

But don't think this competition equals beef—Cole is as stoked for Yeezus as the rest of us. "I'm a Kanye fan. This isn't like Kanye and 50 Cent. They were competitive. It's like Kobe-Jordan, rather, or LeBron-Kobe. It's the young kid coming in and saying, 'I can play, too.'"